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@ni-'12h gratta. getint @fitta JAMES E. SIMPSON, ror BnooKLYN, NEW Yoan.

Letters Patent No. 60,947, dated January 1, 1867.

dige ,tlgetnle nimh-tt im tigen tettns tant mit mating sin nf tige stmt.

4Be it known that I, JAMES E. SIMPSON, of Brooklyn, in Kings county, and State oi' New York, have invented an ImprovedSeaffolding for Dry-Docks, Marine Railways, &c. and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in' connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practise it.-

The invention relates to the construction and arrangement of scaii'olding timbers or staging for dry-docks, the object of the invention being vto so dispose the posts-or uprights and the arms or spalls` thereof as' to facilitate the erection or displacement of the staging, enabling the same to be readily brought into desirable position with reference to the side oi' the vessel, or to be folded away, but in such manner as to be always in position for immediate and ready erection of the staging. i

The invention consists, in connection with applying the arms or spalls to each` upright in such manner that they may be folded against the same or may be slid'up and down upon the uprights'and conned thereto at any desirable height, of so connecting each upright to a stationary horizontal rail that it may be both supported in vertical position with respect to said rail, and folded down: against orl parallel to it, or may be slid along upon the rail, means being applied that shall secure the upright down to the rail, while. admitting of its movement along the same.

The drawings represent so much of a scaiolding embodying my invention as will enable the improvements to be readily' understood- A showing a side view of the supporting rail, with one ofthe uprights.

B, asimilarview, showing the top piece of the upright as folded against its side.

l C and D showopposite edge views of the upright with cross sections o.the rail; and E, a plan of the upright and a portion of the supporting rail.

a denotes a stationary horizontal rail, which is toA be properly secured to' the bed oi' the dock or basin; 6, a sliding shoe placed on top of the rail, and having hooks, c, which enter longitudinal guide grooves or ways, d, in the sides of the rail, securing the shoeto the rail, but allowingit to' slide freely thereupon, the shoe being held in stationary position, when required, by a pin, e, or other convenient means. To this shoe the upright f is jointed, as seen at g, the upright 'turning freely on the' hinge `or joint-pin, inthe vertical plane of the rail a, and so that it maybe either held steadily in vertical position byv braces, or may be turned down against or parallel to the rail when not in use. ,To these uprights are hungA the spallsv or armsyi, which support the staging plank, each arm having ears, 7c, through which-the joint-pins extend into plates, Z, secured to the sides of the posts, these ears being so applied as to enable the arms to swing' upwards againstthe post, while, when they are swung down. they assume and maintain a horizontality, as seen at A and B, an eitension, m, bracing the arm against the post in this position. Holes, un, are provided in the plates l, so that the arms may be set at any required height. The convenience and utility of this arrangement with reference tothe speedy erection or removal of staging about a vessel will be readily understood. It enables each part to-be kept for its specific use, and the whole staging to be compactly disposed of when not in use. `As in bringing the staging under theA counter or over-hanging parts of a vessel, the upper end of the upright would prevent the proper disposition of the same with reference to the work to be accomplished', I make the upright sectional, jointing the top piece o, so that it may be swung down alongside le main piece, f, when desirable,a suitable latching or `locking connection being applied that shall hold the top piece iirmly and securely' in position when extended.

I claim the combination of the stationary guide and support rail a, the sliding shoe b, and'the hinged or folding upright f, arranged to operate substantially as described'. v

And in combination with the folding upright, I claim the folding arms' z', hinged to and folding up against the upright, and maintained in horizontal posiiion when in use, substantially as set forth. i I y I also claim, in combination with the folding upright and its hinged -arms, the folding top piece o, applied and operated substantially as described.

J'. E. SIMPSON.

Witnesses:

R. J, BUnBAnn, M. TIDD. 

